Consolidated "Scotch - Best & Worst, recommendations, questions" thread
Mar 4, 2018, 8:26 am
#961
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: RDU
Posts: 5,242
Good night for the right shade of blue (Duke) tonight. Celebrated by killing my Hibiki 21 (finally - bought it 3 years ago and have been savoring it) and enjoying some Hibiki 17 (thankfully reloaded in December in Tokyo) and Yoichi Miyagikyo 12 (sadly almost out of a bottle I bought pre-price spike).
Can say with certainty that Hibiki 17 remains my favorite and I actually give the nod to the Yoichi 12 over the Hibiki 21.
Too bad it's all gotten so expensive. The "Japanese Whisky" price premium on everything these days sucks for those of us who actually enjoy drinking it (rather than just flipping it).
Next goal is to find things that are similar but in the old Japanese Whisky price range.
Can say with certainty that Hibiki 17 remains my favorite and I actually give the nod to the Yoichi 12 over the Hibiki 21.
Too bad it's all gotten so expensive. The "Japanese Whisky" price premium on everything these days sucks for those of us who actually enjoy drinking it (rather than just flipping it).
Next goal is to find things that are similar but in the old Japanese Whisky price range.
Mar 8, 2018, 5:37 am
#962
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: In the air
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Hibiki 17 (and 30) are old favorites of mine too, but unfortunately their value has increased more rapidly than my income over the last decade, so I rarely get a chance to drink them now. Obviously not the same as Japanese whisky, but I'm finding good Irish whiskey to be very fairly priced and lovely to drink. Check out the Teeling special releases, the nicer Redbreast, or Green/ Red Spot as examples. I would not be surprised if Irish whiskey undergoes the same increase in price in 5-10 years, so it might be best to get your fill of it in now.
Mar 9, 2018, 8:14 am
#963
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With a return to winter-like temperatures this week, I wasn't in the mood for a cold beer. Rummaging around the back of the liquor cabinet I found an unopened bottle of Glenfarclas 12 year. I gave it a couple tries but my impression was "meh". Not particularly smoky or peaty, maybe a little on the sweet side, but not particularly anything. I returned it to the back of the cabinet.
Mar 9, 2018, 8:23 am
#964
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Rochester, NY USA
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Posts: 1,424
With a return to winter-like temperatures this week, I wasn't in the mood for a cold beer. Rummaging around the back of the liquor cabinet I found an unopened bottle of Glenfarclas 12 year. I gave it a couple tries but my impression was "meh". Not particularly smoky or peaty, maybe a little on the sweet side, but not particularly anything. I returned it to the back of the cabinet.
I rarely find a peaty profile unless I'm tasting something from Islay or the Islands. Yes, there are others, but not so much in Speyside or even the Highlands.
Personally, I've never met a bottle of Laphroaig that I didn't like
Mar 22, 2018, 1:42 pm
#965
Join Date: Oct 2010
Posts: 1,922
Sounds similar to another Speyside product - Glen Fohdry Dublaich.
Mar 22, 2018, 2:02 pm
#966
Join Date: Oct 2010
Posts: 1,922
Had the opportunity to recently attend a Glenmorangie Scotch tasting at a local Total Wine store. It was hosted by Brendan McCarran, Head of Maturing Stocks at the distillery. Kudos to him for staying up past midnight to lead it.
We went through 5 variations: Glenmorangie Original; Sherry Cask Lasanta, Quinta Ruban Port Cask; Extremely Rare 18; and Spios Private Edition #9 .
He said that they pull from Glenmorangie Original (10 year) to produce the others. Lasanta spends an additional 2 years in either Pedro Ximenez or Oloroso sherry casks. It won Highland Single malt Scotch of the year last year. Quinta Ruban spends an additional 2 years in Ruby Port casks. The Extremely Rare 18 is aged to 15 years then spends another 3 years in either Pedro Ximenez or Oloroso sherry casks. Spios is their 9th edition special distillation. It is fully matured in former American rye whiskey casks. While Spios translates as "spicy", I didn't find it overly so. Our host said he was skeptical at first at what they might end up with using rye whskey casks, but once fully matured, he was won over. I believe Whiskey.com gives it a 90 out of 100 rating.
I think my favorite was the Extremely Rare 18, but I found the Spios to be very interesting and actually bought a bottle for the liquor cabinet.
We went through 5 variations: Glenmorangie Original; Sherry Cask Lasanta, Quinta Ruban Port Cask; Extremely Rare 18; and Spios Private Edition #9 .
He said that they pull from Glenmorangie Original (10 year) to produce the others. Lasanta spends an additional 2 years in either Pedro Ximenez or Oloroso sherry casks. It won Highland Single malt Scotch of the year last year. Quinta Ruban spends an additional 2 years in Ruby Port casks. The Extremely Rare 18 is aged to 15 years then spends another 3 years in either Pedro Ximenez or Oloroso sherry casks. Spios is their 9th edition special distillation. It is fully matured in former American rye whiskey casks. While Spios translates as "spicy", I didn't find it overly so. Our host said he was skeptical at first at what they might end up with using rye whskey casks, but once fully matured, he was won over. I believe Whiskey.com gives it a 90 out of 100 rating.
I think my favorite was the Extremely Rare 18, but I found the Spios to be very interesting and actually bought a bottle for the liquor cabinet.
Last edited by Pa Kettle; Mar 22, 2018 at 2:11 pm
Mar 27, 2018, 7:00 pm
#967
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I've decided this year to branch out and try new bottles for my nightly cocktail. Here's my first purchase. I like it, a little on the peety side but that doesn't turn me off. Love the color too
Mar 27, 2018, 7:37 pm
#968
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: RDU
Posts: 5,242
Did you pick that up in an NC ABC (alcohol) store, or at a duty free shop on one of your trips?
Mar 27, 2018, 7:42 pm
#969
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Mar 27, 2018, 8:01 pm
#970
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I love a lot of ice. Whether I'm "supposed to" or not, it's my drink and it's how I take it.
Mar 29, 2018, 7:43 pm
#971
Moderator, Omni, Omni/PR, Omni/Games, FlyerTalk Posting Legend
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Mar 30, 2018, 12:24 am
#972
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Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Earth. Residency:HKG formerly:YYZ
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There and HKG/SIN duty-free is where I replenish my go to, L16.
Mar 30, 2018, 8:03 pm
#973
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2013
Posts: 26,288
As I've said elsewhere, Lagavulin is a sledgehammer of a drink. But sometimes a sledgehammer is just the tool for the job.
Mar 30, 2018, 8:42 pm
#974
Join Date: Nov 2014
Posts: 597
It is my water of life. I can't completely explain it. I just love it.
